PRESTON — The Fillmore Soil & Water Conservation District is battling two non-native weeds that threaten the Root River. Japanese hops and poison hemlock, both on Minnesota’s Noxious Weeds List, choke out native species that shade streams and stabilize their banks — putting cold-and-clear-water trout habitat at risk. For the fourth consecutive season, a Conservation … [Read more...]
Funding available for sustainable agriculture projects AGRI grants help farmers test new ideas to drive sustainability
ST. PAUL, MN — Farmers and Minnesota nonprofit and educational organizations focused on testing new ideas in sustainable agriculture are encouraged to apply for a Sustainable Agriculture and Demonstration (SustAg) Grant by 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2019. The MDA’s SustAg Program is part of the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program, which administers … [Read more...]
Apply for Beginning Farmer Tax Credit by Oct. 1 Incentives available for rent or sale of farm land and some assets
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority reminds beginning farmers and asset owners to apply by October 1, 2019, for the tax credit for the sale or lease of land, equipment, machinery, and livestock. To qualify, the applicant must be a Minnesota resident with the desire to start farming or who began farming within the past 10 years, provide … [Read more...]
Wykoff to test for water leaks throughout town
The Wykoff City Council held a regular meeting on September 9. All council members were in attendance (Lyle Morey, Richard Gleason, Mayor Al Williams, City Clerk Becky Schmidt, Mary Sackett and Mary Tjepkes). Kingsland School Board Chair Jackie Horsman addressed the council, stating, “As you probably heard, Kingsland is putting up an operating referendum in November, and I … [Read more...]
Chamber, Historical Society opposed to moving Harmony Visitor Center
The public forum at the September 10 Harmony City Council meeting was well attended by members of the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce, the Harmony Area Historical Society, and the community who were concerned about a discussion that took place during the August meeting. At that time, Council member Tony Webber suggested that the council visit the possibility of selling the … [Read more...]
Nuisance properties still topic of discussion at Canton City Council meeting
At the September 11 Canton City Council meeting, nuisance properties were the topic of discussion. The council discussed multiple nuisance properties that have either been warned or cited. One of the main properties involved belongs to Danny Whalen, who did attend the meeting. Whalen will be appearing in court on October 8 to enter a plea for 2018 misdemeanor charges that … [Read more...]
Headstone unearthed beneath driveway of body shop
On Thursday, September 5, 2019, there was a discovery made in front of the Chatfield Body Shop. In Chatfield, Minn., the construction capital of Southeast Minnesota, the headstone of Almira Caw was found while crews were doing some dirt work to replace the driveway of the repair shop. Almira Caw’s headstone read “Almira, Wife of Joseph Caw, Born Feb. 23, 1831, Died Apr. … [Read more...]
Medical examiner 2018 review
R. Ross Reichard, D.D., Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner, presented 2018 data for Fillmore County at the September 10 county board meeting. Chairman Duane Bakke was absent. Reichard’s office serves eight counties in southeast Minnesota. He emphasized the importance of the medical examiner’s staff including investigators throughout the region. In 2018, 136 … [Read more...]
Wastewater treatment operator hired
During the September 9 Chatfield City Council meeting, Steven Schlichter was hired to operate the Wastewater Treatment Plant effective September 23. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. Schlichter was one of four applicants that had been interviewed for the position. The council also approved an extension of the services of Steve Bushman, WHKS Engineering, through October 18 … [Read more...]
New roof complete on Whalan Town Hall
As the Whalan City Council met on September 9, the council was pleased to announce that the new steel roof on the Whalan City Hall has been installed and all work on the roof has been completed. Present at the regularly scheduled monthly council meeting were Mayor Marlys Tuftin, City Clerk Lolly Melander and Council members Owen Lewis, Everett Johnson, Kim Berekvam and Tonya … [Read more...]